Millions could face new DHS registration requirement
The Department of Homeland Security has finalized a rule that could require millions of non-citizens without prior immigration registration to submit personal data and biometric information through USCIS Form G-325R, with compliance steps and penalties now formalized nationwide under federal law. A January 2025 executive order directed the department homeland security to prioritize compliance, and this final rule builds on a March 2025 interim system that turns a decades-old registration duty into active enforcement.
DHS issued the final rule to formalize a nationwide registration framework requiring certain non-citizens to register with the federal government, provide fingerprints where applicable, and carry proof of compliance. DHS estimates between 2.2 million and 3.2 million people may fall into the affected category, though the exact total could vary with enforcement.
Key Takeaways
- DHS finalized an alien registration rule formalizing USCIS Form G-325R as a universal registration path for many previously unregistered non-citizens.
- Most non-citizens aged 14 and older who remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days without prior registration must comply under Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
- Compliance requires a USCIS online account, Form G-325R submission, and a biometrics appointment when required; digital proof serves as official registration evidence.
- Registration does not grant legal status or protection from removal, but failure to comply can trigger fines, criminal penalties, or short-term imprisonment.
- Immigration advocates including the ACLU and Human Rights Watch have raised concerns about trust and reporting, while legal challenges to the 2025 rollout remain ongoing.
Who must register under the new DHS rule?
The policy centers on Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Newsweek reports that non-citizens aged 14 and older who remain in the U.S. for more than 30 days without prior registration may now face active enforcement, even though the underlying legal duty is not new.
Parents or legal guardians must register children under 14, and individuals who turn 14 must re-register and provide fingerprints within 30 days. The focus is on people never captured through visa, admission, or entry processes—including some who entered without inspection or long-term residents who arrived as children.
Many visa holders, lawful permanent residents, and others processed through formal channels are generally already considered registered. For compliance updates across federal policy shifts, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts coverage.
How does USCIS Form G-325R registration work?
According to Erickson Immigration Group, the final rule designates Form G-325R (Biographic Information – Registration) as a general registration mechanism for individuals not previously registered through existing immigration processes.
The typical process includes creating a USCIS online account at myUSCIS, submitting biographic information via Form G-325R, attending a biometrics appointment where applicable, and receiving digital proof of registration through the account. DHS says the rule does not create new legal obligations—it provides a structured way to meet longstanding requirements.
Registered adults must carry proof at all times, and address changes must be reported within 10 days. Acceptable evidence now includes digital G-325R proof, Form I-94 records, certain removal-related documents, and trusted traveler program documentation. Full government guidance is available from USCIS.
What penalties could noncompliance trigger?
Failure to register or carry proof has long carried civil and criminal consequences, but enforcement was inconsistent for decades. Newsweek notes that fines or short-term imprisonment could become far more routine under the current approach.
EIG reports that penalties may include fines or imprisonment, and DHS stresses biometric collection and identity verification as core enforcement tools. DHS has not imposed a biometric fee at this time, though that could change.
Compliance requires active steps and offers no legal status or work authorization. Legal challenges filed after the 2025 rollout remain pending, leaving room for future changes before millions of people are fully pulled into the system.